I was bathing Maple—or at least standing there, monitoring the situation,m while she did “swimming” and “odavasun” (something she invented).

Maple: Daddy, will you please hand me a wash cloth?
Daddy: Sure, sweet girl. Are you going to wash your hair?
Maple: No, I’m protesting.
Daddy: What?
Maple: I need it for protesting.
Daddy: Really? hands her the wash cloth How do you protest?
Maple: First you turn on the hot water. Then you protest with hot water. Then you turn on the cold water, and you protest with cold water. Will you turn on the water?

We are having some friends over for Cioppino on Saturday. They have a son the same age as Maple and a daughter a few months older than Adele, so it’s a good match. Plus, they’re fun peeps. Anyway, the last time they came over, Maple had some problems sharing her toys with L., their son. Halane and I were trying to get her psyched up for the visit.

Daddy: So when L. is here, what if he wants to ride your Laufrad?
Maple: That’s okay. He can do it. I’ll ride my tricycle.
Mama: Good, Maple! And what are you guys going to do?
Maple: We’re going to play and have fun. And I’m going to save his life.
Daddy: Really? How so?
Maple: Like this!
Maple proceeds to do do a long, special dance consisting of spins and arm waves.
Maple: And then you finish, like this! holds her arms straight out and then brings them together above her head enthusiastically
Both Parents: Wow!
Maple: Now I’m going to save Hannah’s life!
Does the whole thing again. Then starts naming person after person and doing a long dance for each, all of whom now have saved lives.